ABOUT FERRARIFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1928 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A.. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has enjoyed great success.

The Concept

In 1997 Ferrari introduced its Formula Uomo initiative at its Maranello HQ, with the aim of providing its staff with the best possible working conditions. Formula Uomo puts Ferrari employees firmly at the heart of the company and is symbolised best, according to Montezemolo, by "the tree-lined road, Viale Enzo Ferrari, inside which runs the entire evolution of the site."

Ferrari's aim was to develop an innovative factory by creating a well-organised, ecological environment that would continually stimulate and motivate those who work there. "We are very pleased with what we have done," says Montezemolo, "because it is the result of unity, passion and determination, based on total innovation and with the maximum attention paid to the workplace, the product, marketing and trends."

Ferrari knows that the best performance is only achieved if employees feel empowered and appreciated. Ferrari also believes that the quality of its cars cannot be separated from the lives of the people working at the Ferrari plant. That's why the working environment and welfare of the people working there are the most important priorities.

The Ferrari plant is a model work environment. The philosophy behind the creation of Ferrari's production areas dictated that buildings and their functions should be designed with the needs of employees firmly in mind. This philosophy became known as Formula Uomo. Consequently, the newly renovated Ferrari complex now combines carefully designed lighting systems, green areas (there are over 100 trees along the roads around the factory), a new restaurant, climate control, noise damping, and special measures aimed at reducing environmental impact, with advanced technologies. The Ferrari complex was specifically designed to architecturally reinforce the synergic relationship between work and results.

Ferrari employees also benefit from an extensive range of education, fitness and wellbeing programmes. Formula Benessere raises health awareness and offers specialist check-ups, while Formula Benessere Junior aims to foster an early interest in sport, fitness and wellbeing in employees’ children. Language lessons are also offered, along with an ongoing training programme covering both the professional development and the specific interests of employees.

And as a result, Ferrari believes that visitors to the Maranello factory will discover not only innovative cars, but a world of ecological and technological research, carried out by people making the best possible use of their talents and passion.

FERRARI HISTORYEnzo Ferrari never intended to produce road cars when he had formed Scuderia Ferrari (literally "Ferrari Stable", and usually used to mean "Team Ferrari", it is correctly pronounced "skoo deh REE ah") in 1929 as a sponsor for amateur drivers headquartered in Modena. Ferrari prepared and successfully raced various drivers in Alfa Romeo cars until 1938, when he was hired by Alfa Romeo to head their motor racing department.

In 1941, Alfa Romeo was confiscated by the Fascist government of Benito Mussolini as part of the Axis Powers' war effort. Enzo Ferrari's division was small enough to be unaffected by this. Because he was prohibited by contract from racing for four years, the Scuderia briefly became Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari, which ostensibly produced machine tools and aircraft accessories. Also known as SEFAC (Scuderia Enzo Ferrari Auto Corse), Ferrari did in fact produce one race car, the Tipo 815, in the non-competition period. It was the first actual Ferrari car (it debuted at the 1940 Mille Miglia), but due to World War II it saw little competition. In 1943 the Ferrari factory moved to Maranello, where it has remained ever since. The factory was bombed by the Allies in 1944 and rebuilt in 1946, after the war ended, and included a works for road car production. Until Il Commendatore's death, this would remain little more than a source of funding for his first love, racing.

The first Ferrari road car was the 1947 125 S, powered by a 1.5 L V12 engine; Enzo Ferrari reluctantly built and sold his automobiles to fund Scuderia Ferrari. While his beautiful and fast cars quickly gained a reputation for excellence, Enzo maintained a famous distaste for his customers.

In 1988, Enzo Ferrari oversaw the launch of the Ferrari F40, the last new Ferrari to be launched before his death later that year, and arguably one of the most famous supercars ever made.

On May 17, 2009 in Maranello, Italy, a 1957 250 Testa Rossa (TR) was auctioned, by RM Auctions and Sotheby's, for $12.1 Million - a world record for the most expensive car ever sold at an auction.